Being Christian & Single in College

Adjusting to college life is hard enough, but being a Christian and attending a secular school can pose even more challenges. In the midst of fighting homesickness, making new friends, Christians are exposed to different kinds of pressures that could easily pull them away from their walk with Christ. The pressures that they may face are: college pressure, dorm pressure, peer pressure, religions pressure, and for some culture pressure. So how can Christians hold on to their values in the midst of all these pressures?

College life is a world of its own, in which students are abandoned to themselves and are easily influenced by different kinds of habits such as alcohol, drug, and sex. Moreover, the fact that there’s no authority figure to tell them “No”, these students succumb very quickly. On top of that, there are different kinds of beliefs and ideas existing on campus that can be just as attempting. These beliefs and ideas will make you question and test your faith. You will meet people who are so convincing in their ideas that they will try to drive you away from Christians. You will also meet people who will dislike and even hate you because of your beliefs. No matter what, you should stand firm in your faith, not criticize or belittle anyone but instead love and be the light. Matthew 5:14-16 says “You are the light of the world […] let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Therefore, we shouldn’t be conformed to the ways and customs of this world but instead we should let God transform us.

Life in a secular campus is not easy and requires a Christian to be strong, resistant to temptations, and faithful and the Lord. The following are steps I believe a Christian should take while attending college to stay focused on God:

Be filled with the Holy Spirit

Pray and fast regularly

Join a Christian group on campus.

Keep attending and serve at church. Attending church and meeting your family in Christ on a regular basis will help you stay away from the wrong crowd Do your daily devotional. You have to remain rooted in the word. Psalm 119:105 says “Your word is lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” It’s very crucial for a Christian to read the Bible every day to make good decisions

Stand firm on your beliefs. No matter what people may say about your beliefs or ideas, you should always defend yourself and God

We, Christians, will always face moral decisions and our faith will always be tested, be it in college, workplace, etc. But the key is to stand up to our beliefs and faith, and fix our eyes on Jesus. In Hebrews 12:2, the author encourages us to “keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew that later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side of God’s throne! “Keeping your eyes on God will help you through your time in college and if you stand firm, you will triumph!